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ANC does U-turn on the Info Bill public consultations,again

The ruling ANC has just issued a press statement saying it intends holding the public consultation on the Info bill across the country starting today, 18 November 2011. In a statement released on Friday evening, 18 November 2011, the ruling party said “a number of ANC Members of Parliament will this weekend interact with communities in various provinces on the Protection of State Information Bill”.

It claimed that the interaction “which is part of the constituency work regularly undertaken by MPs, is part of the ANC’s continuous engagement with various stakeholders on the draft legislation”. According to the ANC the “objective of this process is to explain the Bill to communities and obtain their views”.

On Friday the party indicated that the first consultation – which has never been mentioned before until the release of the statement a few hours ago at the time of writing – was held on in theWestern Capeat Site B Hall in Khayelitsha at 16h00 and headed by Andre Guam. Below please find a details information regarding the publication consultation around the country:

GAUTENG PROVINCE: Pretoria Central

21 November 2011:

Address: Cr Bosman & Visagie

Time: 09h00

Deployed: Dr G. Koornhof, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu

Enquiries: Esther Masuku – 072 533 0018

GAUTENG PROVINCE: Delaray/Sophiatown

20 November 2011:

Venue: Nana Memorial, Trust Hall Cr Foyle&Ingley Ave

Time: 12h00

Deployed: Vincent Smith, Sophia Williams-DeBruyn

Enquiries: Ranteladi Makhetha 072 100 5526

LIMPOPO PROVINCE: Polokwane

19 November 2011

Address: Moletji Moshate Community Hall

Time: 12h00

Deployed MP: StanleyMotimele

Enquiries: M Makgaka – 072 714 5207

KWAZULU/NATAL

19 November 2011

Venue: JosiaDlamini Hall, Umlazi Cinema, Umlazi

Time: 10h00

Deployed MP: Christopher Ntuli

Enquiries: Sanele Dlungele 083 439 3450

FREE STATE PROVINCE

21 November 2011

Venue: Mangaung Regional Hall, Rocklands,Bloemfontein

Time: 08h00

Deployed MP: Makhotso Sotyu

Enquiries: Nobesuthu Ngwevu – 083 985 4270

NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE

21 November 2011

Venue: Floos Hall,SquareHillPark, Square Hill, Collville

Time: 11h00

Deployed MP: Yolanda Botha

Enquiries: Jack Sizwe – 074 796 0826

NORTH WEST PROVINCE

19 November 2011

Venue: Droad Bent Street,Wolmaranstad, Next to IEC Offices

Time: 10h00

Deployed MP: Teboho Chaane

Enquiries: Dipuo Mokoto – 073 440 1409

The ruling party said the Mpumalanga provincial legislature had deployed MPs and members of the provincial legislature (MPLs) to various areas on 21 November to engage with communities on this Bill.

NB: Today Mail & Guardian reported that the bill had returned “unchanged” after the party in September withdrew it from Parliament for public consultation.